How to get married in Gran Canaria

If you’re thinking about getting married in Gran Canaria, you’re probably thinking ‘How exactly do we go
about this?’
Let us explain…

Non-Residents

There are two options available to non-residents in Gran Canaria; one is to be legally married via the Catholic Church and the other is in the form of a blessing, which would follow-on after a civil ceremony back in your home country.
Legal marriage via the Catholic Church
  • One of the couple must be of the Catholic faith.
  • Both persons must not have been married previously.
  • If you choose this option you will need to arrange a meeting with your local Parish Priest, a minimum of 6 months prior to your preferred wedding date.
  • Relate your plans to your Parish Priest; he will then forward the relevant information to your local Diocese.
  • This information will then be transferred to the Diocese here in Gran Canaria.
Religious Ceremony (blessing) in Gran Canaria
  • In most cases a small civil ceremony service is conducted in the couple’s home country, often with only 2 witnesses.
  • A religious or spiritual ceremony is then conducted in Gran Canaria and is considered as the actual wedding day by all involved.
  • There are many advantages to choosing this option; in particular, your legal paperwork will be in English. This avoids translation and legalization issues.
  • This tends to be the preferred option, as it allows the couple to tailor-make their wedding ceremony, location and overall theme. It offers you and your guests the utmost in flexibility and allows you to create the wedding of your dreams. It is also generally viewed by the wedding couple and their guests as their ‘true wedding day’, the one which they will remember for years to come.

Residents

If one of you is a resident here in the Canaries you can legally marry here via the civil registry office or town hall. We’ll be entering into this in more detail in the next edition of the Canary News.

Same sex marriages are also legal on the island. As with heterosexual marriages one of you needs to be a resident. If not, a spiritual union can be organized following a civil ceremony in your own country.
Your wedding ceremony is going to be one of the many highlights of your day so finding the best option for you is vital.
We can help you with all the paperworks and we will be guiding you through the process. If you have any questions or if you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Bernadette Garside
Tel nº: 653 642 208
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